Forum puts spotlight on racial issues
February 9, 2007
By Salle E. Richards
srichards@stargazette.com
Star-Gazette
Participants at Thursday night's Criminal Justice Forum in Elmira seemed determined to go beyond seeing a black officer on the Elmira Police Department to digging at deeper issues that can divide a community.
One of those issues raised by several audience members was the perception that racial profiling is still a problem in law enforcement.
The second community Criminal Justice Forum was sponsored by the Elmira/Corning Branch of the NAACP with the Alliance of Interdenominational Ministers and the Economic Opportunity Program Inc.
The meeting picked up where the first left off -- examining the importance of minority representation in public institutions.
Cited in particular were police departments, schools and municipal boards and commissions.
On the issue of police targeting blacks, Richard W. Rich Jr., Chemung County public advocate, said recent court decisions have actually given police a blueprint on how to get around racial profiling.
He attributed the backsliding to emphasis in recent years on combating terrorism.
Perceptions, both good and bad, also was a concern of those present.
When several people in the audience said that black people are arrested more than whites, Elmira Police Chief W. Scott Drake III cited arrest statistics in Elmira in 2005 and 2006.
In 2005, he said, 1,656 white males and 1,015 black males were arrested; in 2006, it was 1,497 white males and 898 black males.
Drake pointed out a more disturbing statistic for the same years that show that in 2005, 771 white women and 216 black women were arrested. In 2006, 731 white women and 243 black women were arrested.
Drake said this indicates that more women are breaking laws than ever before.
While the number of blacks arrested was less than the number of whites for both years, several questioned what the percentage of population would be.
Drake pointed out that many blacks arrested in Elmira are from Rochester. He said they are targeted because "They don't have a right to sell drugs here."
Drake and Corning Police Chief Salvatore Trentanelli, who also was part of the forum's panel, said police can't stop drug trafficking by themselves. They need help from residents.
Drake reminded his audience that his department has set up a new information line -- (607)271-HALT -- where people can anonymously give tips on illegal activities.
Georgia Verdier, president of the Elmira/Corning branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, said it takes everybody working together to solve a community's problems.
"We have to take ownership," she said.
People were still eager to talk when the forum ended at 8 p.m., with many calling for similar discussions with more emphasis on other community agencies.
"Once a year isn't enough," said Roland Coleman of Elmira. "You can see the community is interested."
"It's good to share things we have experienced, even those painful experiences, identify the problems and come up with logical and philosophical solutions," said the Rev. Cephus McGee, pastor of All Saints Home Church of God In Christ in Elmira.
